I strongly oppose this…

I strongly oppose this initiative. While planning needs to be reformed in our province, in order to build more housing with less delays, it would be destructive for the minister to remove site plan control as part of MZOs. Removing site plan control would make Official Plan policies irrelevant and would damage our communities and the aspirations for better communities. Removing site plan control would affect every aspect of planning including public realm, environmental, and urban design policies. This would create developments that do not conform to existing policies and would therefore make planning irrelevant. As we grow our cities, we need an efficient yet strong planning system that is not subject to political interference and delivers on its goals. Politicians should not interfere in planning, MZOs should only be used in the rarest of occasions, planners should enforce their policies without exception, and real planning reform is the only solution to our current inefficiencies. The aspirations regarding the development of our communities should not be hampered, and each development should respect planning policies. Site Plan Control is not the reason we have a housing crisis, and is the best tool planners have to ensure good developments that address the many issues & aspirations our cities face.

If the government truly cares about our physical world, it should immediately remove all efforts to dismantle planning and to remove the most effective power we have to shape our world. We should implement a stronger planning system that delivers on our aspirations and creates better cities, ones that are more efficient, attractive (good urban design and public realm), and sustainable. Planning is the answer to that. Please don't make this terrible mistake.

Thank you.